OPIUM TRAFFICKER GAOLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 7

OPIUM TRAFFICKER GAOLED.

SECRET CHINESE . SIGNS. , . BRISBANE, October 14.' John Wilson, 40, described ns a , wharf labourer, was sentenced to eight , months' imprisonment for having heea ! fonnd with opium. . . .

"It would appear, from documents found on you,- that you have been engaged in illegal • opium traffic for years," said Mr.- H. Harris, the Police Magistrate, in passing sentence. The magistrate added that tae defendant and others had taken great pains to defeat the law.

When the defendant pleaded guilty the prosecution tendered letters written in Chinese dating bark <o- 1921. Most of them were stated to be letters introducing Wilson to Chinese engaged- in opium traffic. One addressed "to seamen on Chinese steamers, Cantonese people" stated: "If Wilson should bonrd steamers to purenase opium you may trust him."

Another exhibit was half nn envelope cut neatly with sein'sors. Attached was a letter written in Chinese, stating: "T have requested this person, European, to call on you. T enclose half an en--v-olope. the counter-pa it of whie'.i will be' handed you by the European for comparison. Without this proof do not receive the goods." Three-quarters of a rubber stamp marU: khowed on (he edge of half the. envelope.